Jcc Man Saves 10-year-old Boy From Drowning

JAMES CITY — A 59-year-old James City man saved a 10-year-old boy from drowning Monday afternoon in the James River, a county fire official said.

The boy was swimming near the College Creek Bridge on the Colonial Parkway when he got caught up in the current about 40 yards offshore, said District Chief Tal Luton.

He said the water gets pretty deep there when the tide changes, and the current is strong as the water rushes through the narrow channel into the James River.

A 21-year-old College of William and Mary student drowned in the same area in 1997. School and fire officials at the time described the water there as looking deceptively calm and shallow. "You have an area you could wade out 10 to 15 feet and only be up to your knees, then take one more step and be over your head," one said.

Glenn "Steve" Bingham, a retired Navy pilot who lives on Digges Court in Chisel Run, said he was on the beach with his daughter and her two children Monday. They were just getting ready to leave when they heard a woman yelling for help.

"There was a boy, 30 to 35 yards offshore. All we could see was his hands in the air. He was going under. It was really scary." There were more than a couple of dozen people scattered along the beach watching in an apparent state of shock, Bingham said.

He's not a particularly strong swimmer but knew he had to act quickly, Bingham said.

"I had to go get him. I didn't have a choice. I tossed my cell phone to the lady and told her to call 911."

Bingham said he got pretty fatigued and felt himself going under before he made it back to shore with the boy. Luckily, just at that point, he began to be able to touch the ground with his foot and gain some leverage, he said.

"When my strength failed, God was there to provide assistance," said Bingham, an assistant pastor at York River Baptist Church.

"I just give the credit to God," he stressed. "I somehow knew God would be involved and would get us back."

The boy was unconscious and vomiting water, said Luton, the county fire department spokesman. Both the boy and his rescuer were taken to Williamsburg Community Hospital for evaluation.

Bingham was released, but the child was being transferred to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Luton said. He declined to release the child's name. Bingham said he was told the boy was taken to Children's Hospital mainly as a precaution and that doctors expect he will be fine.

Bingham emphasized that he did not care about getting any public recognition for what he did and was just glad the boy's parents did not have to be talking to a funeral home Monday night.

Luton said the boy appeared to be at the beach with several other children and a baby sitter when the incident occurred at 1:20 p.m.

Patti Rosenberg can be reached at 229-5751 or by e-mail at prosenberg@dailypress.com